Episode 128. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz – ⛪Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville (2007-2022)⛪

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz experienced the calling and desire to serve others through the clergy while in high school.

Archbishop Kurtz is the 4th archbishop and the 9th bishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville, and Benedict XVI appointed him Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. He served from 1972 to 1999 in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa., receiving the distinguished title of Monsignor in 1986. He later became the bishop of Knoxville, Tenn., until 2007.

The Archdiocese of Louisville is the oldest Roman Catholic Archdiocese west of the Appalachians, covering 24 counties and serving a Catholic population of more than 200,000. In 2010, Archdiocese Kurtz was elected to a 3-year term as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, serving on the executive and administrative committees.

Among his numerous roles and titles, Archdiocese Kurtz is the vice chancellor of the Board of the Catholic Extension Society and the Episcopal advisor to the Catholic Social Workers National Association.

Early Life & Formation

• Joseph Edward Kurtz was born on August 18, 1946, in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania.

• He is of Polish-American heritage (his mother’s maiden name was Zmijewski).

• He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, earning a Bachelor of Arts (1968) and a Master of Divinity (1972).

• Subsequently, he earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania (1976) to support his work in Catholic social services.

Priesthood & Early Ministry

• Kurtz was ordained a priest on March 18, 1972, for the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

• Over the next 27 years in Allentown, his ministry included: teaching, parish leadership, administrative roles in Catholic social agencies, coordination of health affairs, and working in social services and family life bureaus.

• He received the honorary title of Monsignor in 1986.

Episcopal Ministry

Bishop of Knoxville

• On October 26, 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville (Tennessee).

• He was consecrated a bishop on December 8, 1999.

• In Knoxville, he engaged with both diocesan development and ecumenical/denominational leadership.

Archbishop of Louisville

• On June 12, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Kurtz as the fourth Archbishop (and ninth bishop) of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

• His installation took place on August 15, 2007.

• He served in that capacity until his resignation was accepted on February 8, 2001.

National & International Roles

• Kurtz was elected Vice-President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2010, and then President from November 2013 to November 2016.

• In February 2014, he was appointed by Pope Francis to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Vatican.

• He has been involved in numerous boards and charitable organizations, including the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Catholic University of America, and Catholic Extension Society.

Leadership Style, Issues & Legacy

• His episcopal motto is “Hope in the Lord.”

• He is considered doctrinally conservative, yet is described by some observers as a “smiling,” or more personable, conservative.

• In 2019, Archbishop Kurtz disclosed his diagnosis and treatment of a urothelial (bladder) cancer, after which he took a medical leave of about three months.

• As Archbishop, he led the Archdiocese of Louisville during a challenging period, including issues related to clergy misconduct, changes in parish life, and financial pressures.

Current Status

• After his retirement (effective February 2022), he holds the title Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville.

• He continues to engage in ministry and remains a respected figure in the U.S. Catholic Church, offering pastoral reflections and commentary on matters of faith, social justice, and ecclesial life.